Synergistically effective herbicide composition comprising metobromuron and clomazone

ABSTRACT

The current invention concerns a synergistically effective herbicide composition comprising as component (A) an herbicidally active amount of metobromuron and as component (B) clomazone, wherein a weight ratio of components (A) and (B) is in a range up to 1000:1.The invention further concerns a kit comprising metobromuron and clomazone and a use of a herbicide composition according to the invention in an amount effective for controlling one or more types of unwanted vegetation by applying the herbicide composition to the unwanted vegetation and/or a habitat thereof.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a synergistically effective herbicide composition comprising metobromuron and clomazone, to a kit comprising metobromuron and clomazone and to a use of a herbicide composition according to the invention for controlling one or more types of unwanted vegetation.

BACKGROUND

Metobromuron with herbicidal activity is known from the prior art, for example from U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,692,911A, 3,901,687A, 3,288,851A and 4,410,697A. Metobromuron is known to inhibit photosynthesis of plants at the height of photo system II.

Clomazone with herbicidal activity is known from the prior art, for example from U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,405,357A, 4,822,401A, 5,583,090A and GB2515783A. In particular, clomazone inhibits the enzyme 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase that plays a role in carotenoid biosynthesis, and clomazone inhibits, among other things, the formation of chlorophyll.

In crop protection, it is in principle desirable to increase the specific action of a herbicidally active substance and the safety of operation. The herbicidal activity of many herbicides against unwanted vegetation is already on a high level, but generally depends on the application rate, the respective preparation form, the respective unwanted vegetation to be controlled or the spectrum of unwanted vegetation, the climatic and soil conditions, etc. Thus, there is frequently a need for targeted synergistic activity against specific species of unwanted vegetation, control of unwanted vegetation with better overall selectivity, generally lower amounts of active compounds used for equally good control results and for a reduced active compound input into the environment to avoid, for example, leaching and carry-over effects. However, in the combined use of a plurality of active compounds, there are frequently phenomena of chemical, physical or biological incompatibility, for example decomposition of an active compound or antagonism in the biological activity of the active compounds.

The present invention aims to resolve at least some of the problems mentioned above. It is furthermore an object of the present invention to provide herbicide compositions as alternatives to the prior art, or as an improvement thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the present invention provides a synergistically effective herbicide composition according to the preamble of claim 1.

In the herbicide composition according to the first aspect of the present invention, metobromuron has shown an unexpected increase in herbicidal activity when combined with clomazone. This increase in herbicidal activity is caused by a synergistic effect when combining metobromuron and clomazone according to a weight ratio according to the first aspect of the present invention.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a kit according to the preamble of claim 5.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a use according to the preamble of claim 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The recitation of numerical ranges by one or two endpoints includes all numbers and fractions subsumed within that range, as well as the recited one or two endpoints.

The term “unwanted vegetation”, as used herein, refers to all plants, such as, for example, broad-leaved weeds, weed grasses or Cyperaceae, which grow at sites where they are unwanted.

The terms “urea herbicide” and “carbamide herbicide”, as used herein, are synonyms, and include selective herbicides for controlling unwanted vegetation belonging to the C2 classification according to the Herbicide Resistance Action Committee (HRAC) (http://www.hracglobal.com). Urea herbicides are urea derivatives and belong to the class of the photo system II inhibitors. The class of urea herbicides includes anisuron, buturon, chlorbromuron, chlorotoluron, chlorxuron, diphenoxuron, dimefuron, diuron, fenuron, fluometuron, isoproturon, linuron, methiouron, metobenzuron, metobromuron, metoxuron, monolinuron, monuron, neburon, parafluron, phenobenzuron, siduron, tetrafluron, thidiazuron, and derivatives thereof.

As used herein, the term “photo-system II inhibitors” refers to chemical compounds which have a herbicidal activity by inhibiting the photosynthesis process at the level of the photo system II in plants. In particular, photo system II inhibitors inhibit the binding of quinone to the D1 protein of photo system II whereby electrons accumulate in chlorophyll molecules and an excess of oxidation occurs, causing the plant to die. The class of substances of the photo-system II inhibitors include triazinone herbicides, urea herbicides, phenylcarbamate herbicides, triazolinone herbicides, nitrile herbicides, amide herbicides, benzothiadiazinone herbicides, phenyl-pyridazine herbicides, and derivatives thereof.

As used herein, the term “carotenoid biosynthesis inhibiting herbicide” refers to a herbicidally active chemical compound that directly or indirectly interferes with the carotenoid production that protects chlorophyll from excessive light and photo-oxidation. Ultimately, the chlorophyll production is thereby inhibited and, therefore, plant leaves become white and bleached. A carotenoid biosynthesis inhibiting herbicide inhibits carotenoid biosynthesis at the phytoene desaturation stage, inhibits the enzyme 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase, or inhibits an unprecedented target of carotenoid biosynthesis. The term carotenoid biosynthesis inhibiting herbicide comprises the following chemical compounds: norflurazone, fluridone, mesotrione, isoxaflutole, pyrasulfotole, tembotrione, topramezone, clomazone and amitrole.

The term ‘safener’, as used in this text, is to be understood as a compound or a mixture of compounds which compensates for, or reduces, the phytotoxic properties of a herbicide towards useful plants without substantially reducing the herbicidal action against unwanted vegetation.

The herbicidal activity of herbicides comprising metobromuron or metobromuron herbicides against unwanted vegetation (among which broad-leaved weeds, weed grasses, cyperaceae) is already on a high level, but generally depends on the application rate, the respective preparation form, the respective unwanted vegetation to be controlled or the spectrum of unwanted vegetation, the climatic and soil conditions, etc. Further criteria in this context are duration of action, or the breakdown rate, of the herbicide, the general crop plant compatibility and speed of action (more rapid onset of action), the activity spectrum and behavior toward follower crops (replanting problems) or the general flexibility of application (control of unwanted vegetation in their various growth stages). If appropriate, changes in the susceptibility of unwanted vegetation, which may occur on prolonged use of the herbicides or in limited geographical regions (control of tolerant or resistant species of unwanted vegetation), may also have to be taken into account. The compensation of losses in action in the case of individual plants of unwanted vegetation by increasing the application rates of the herbicides is only possible to a certain degree, for example because such a procedure reduces the selectivity of the herbicides or because the action is not improved, even when applying higher rates.

Thus, there is frequently a need for targeted synergistic activity against specific species of unwanted vegetation, control of unwanted vegetation with better overall selectivity, generally lower amounts of active compounds used for equally good control results and for a reduced active compound input into the environment to avoid, for example, leaching and carry-over effects. There is also a need for control of species which were as yet uncontrolled (gaps) and for control of species which are tolerant or resistant to individual herbicides or to a number of herbicides. There is also a need for developing one-shot applications to avoid labor-intensive multiple applications, and also to develop systems for controlling the rate of action, where, in addition to an initial rapid control of unwanted vegetation, there is also a slow, residual control.

A possible solution to the problems mentioned above may be to provide combined herbicide compositions, that is combinations of a plurality of herbicides and/or other components from the group of the agrochemically active compounds of a different type and of formulation auxiliaries and additives customary in crop protection which contribute the desired additional properties. However, in the combined use of a plurality of active compounds, there are frequently phenomena of chemical, physical or biological incompatibility, for example decomposition of an active compound or antagonism in the biological activity of the active compounds. For these reasons, potentially suitable combinations of active compounds have to be selected in a targeted manner and tested experimentally for their suitability, it not being possible to safely discount a priori negative or positive results.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a synergistically effective herbicide composition comprising as component (A) an herbicidally active amount of metobromuron and as component (B) clomazone, wherein a weight ratio of components (A) and (B) is in a range up to 1000:1, more preferably up to 900:1, more preferably up to 800:1, more preferably up to 700:1, more preferably up to 600:1, more preferably up to 500:1, even more preferably up to 400:1, even more preferably up to 300:1, even more preferably up to 200:1, even more preferably up to 180:1, even more preferably up to 160:1, even more preferably up to 140:1 and yet even more preferably up to 120:1. In a preferred embodiment, said weight ratio of components (A) and (B) is in a range up to 100:1, more preferably up to 80:1, even more preferably up to 60:1, and yet even more preferably up to 40:1. In a preferred embodiment, said weight ratio of components (A) and (B) is in a range from 2:1 to 38:1, more preferably from 4:1 to 36:1, even more preferably from 6:1 to 30:1, yet even more preferably from 8:1 to 24:1, and most preferably from 10:1 to 18:1.

In the herbicide composition according to the first aspect of the present invention, metobromuron has shown an unexpected increase in herbicidal activity when combined with clomazone. This increase in herbicidal activity is caused by a synergistic effect when combining metobromuron and clomazone according to said weight ratio. Metobromuron and clomazone interact in a particularly favorable manner, for example when they are employed for controlling unwanted vegetation in sown and/or planted crop plants, greens/lawns, in fruit plantations (plantation crops) or on non-crop areas (e.g. squares of residential areas or industrial sites, rail tracks). Surprisingly, the activity of the combination according to the invention of two active compounds, when used against unwanted vegetation, is higher than the activities of the individual components. A true synergistic effect which could not have been predicted therefore exists, not just a complementation of action (additive effect). For controlling unwanted vegetation, it is particularly advantageous to apply said herbicide composition according to the first aspect of the present invention in diluted form in water.

The synergistic effect permits a reduction of the application rates of the individual herbicides metobromuron and clomazone, a higher and/or longer efficacy at the same application rate, the control of species which were as yet uncontrolled (gaps), control of species which are tolerant or resistant to individual herbicides or to a number of herbicides, an extension of the period of application and/or a reduction in the number of individual applications required and—as a result for the user—unwanted vegetation control systems which are more advantageous economically and ecologically.

Metobromuron (IUPAC name: 3-(4-bromophenyl)-1-methoxy-1-methylurea) is a chemical compound from the group of phenylureas and can also be classified as a member of the urea herbicides or carbamide herbicides, and belongs to the class of the photo system II inhibitors. Metobromuron can be obtained from p-bromoaniline and phosgene. Their product further reacts with N, O-dimethylhydroxylamine to yield the final product. Metobromuron can be used as a pre-emergence herbicide in potato, tobacco, flower bulbs, tomato, bush bean, lamb's lettuce, maize, rice, sugar cane, sesame, wheat, artichokes, asparagus, carrot, turnip, celery, beans, onion, spinach, parsnip, soybean and sunflower crops. Besides, metobromuron has also a post-emergence effect and can thus be used as a post-emergence herbicide.

Clomazone, also called clomazone, 2-(2-chlorophenyl) methyl-4,4-dimethyl-3-isoxazolidinone or dimethazone, is a chemical compound belonging to the group of oxazolidinones. Clomazone is a so-called carotenoid biosynthesis inhibiting herbicide, for which reference is made to the above text. Clomazone can be obtained from 2-chlorobenzaldehyde and hydroxylamine. The resulting product further reacts with a cyanoborohydride to give N-((2-chlorophenyl) methyl) hydroxylamine, which gives the final product by reaction with dimethylchloromethyl acetyl chloride. Clomazone is used as a herbicide to combat unwanted vegetation, thus promoting the cultivation of, for example, rapeseed, soya, maize, pea, sugar beet and rice, cereals and fodder crops. It is usually used as a pre-emergence herbicide and up to 5 days after sowing. 5-chloro-2-(2-chlorophenyl) methyl-4,4-dimethyl-3-isoxazolidinone is a known derivative of clomazone.

In this text, salts and/or derivatives of metobromuron and/or clomazone are also falling within the above definitions of metobromuron and clomazone. Any salt is possible as long as it is agriculturally acceptable. Examples thereof include alkali metal salts such as a sodium salt and a potassium salt, alkaline earth metal salts such as a magnesium salt and a calcium salt, ammonium salts such as a monomethylammonium salt, a dimethylammonium salt and a triethylammonium salt, inorganic acid salts such as a hydrochloride, a perchlorate, a sulfate and a nitrate salt, and organic acid salts such as an acetate and a methanesulfonate salt.

Although metobromuron has proven most efficiently in the herbicide composition according to the first aspect of the present invention, alternative embodiments provide other herbicide compositions that are formulated by applying at least one other urea herbicide in addition to or instead of metobromuron. Relative amounts of such urea herbicides with regard to clomazone, and/or alternative carotenoid biosynthesis inhibiting herbicides, may be included within the ranges disclosed above, or may be situated within other or broader ranges. Said at least one other urea herbicide is preferably selected from the group comprising anisuron, buturon, chlorbromuron, chlorotoluron, chlorxuron, diphenoxuron, dimefuron, diuron, fenuron, fluometuron, isoproturon, linuron, methiouron, metobenzuron, metoxuron, monolinuron, monuron, neburon, parafluron, phenobenzuron, siduron, tetrafluron, thidiazuron, and derivatives thereof.

Although clomazone has proven most efficiently in the herbicide composition according to the first aspect of the present invention, alternative embodiments provide other herbicide compositions that are formulated by applying at least one other carotenoid biosynthesis inhibiting herbicide in addition to or instead of clomazone. Relative amounts of such carotenoid biosynthesis inhibiting herbicides with regard to metobromuron, and/or alternative urea herbicides, may be included within the ranges disclosed above, or may be situated within other or broader ranges. Said at least one other carotenoid biosynthesis inhibiting herbicide is preferably selected from the group comprising norflurazone, fluridone, isoxaflutole, pyrasulfotole, tembotrione, topramezone, amitrole and derivatives thereof.

The herbicide composition according to the first aspect of the present invention can be used to control the growth of unwanted vegetation, such as weeds, by pre- or post-emergence application, including both early and later after emergence. The combined application described above can offer both leaf and residual action. Herein, the term “leaf action” refers to herbicidal activity obtained by application to above-ground or exposed portions of the unwanted vegetation that have risen above the surface of a soil. By the term “residual action”, herbicide action is meant to be obtained some time after application to the soil through which seedlings present at the time of application or which germinate after application are controlled.

The term “pre-emergence application” refers to the application on the soil in which the unwanted vegetation seeds and/or seedlings are present before the emergence of the unwanted vegetation above the surface of said soil. The term “post-emergence application” refers to the application to the aboveground or exposed portions of the unwanted vegetation that have risen above the surface of the earth. It will be clear that the use of a herbicide composition according to the first aspect of the present invention can be applied before and after emergence of unwanted vegetation and before and after emergence of a cultivated crop.

When one or more of the components of the herbicide composition are less well tolerated by certain crop plants, application techniques can be employed in which the herbicide composition is sprayed, using spray equipment, in such a way that the leaves of the sensitive crop plants are contacted minimally by the one or more components while the herbicide composition reaches the leaves of unwanted vegetation growing underneath, or the bare surface.

Said synergistic effect of metobromuron and clomazone can be observed, for example, in the case of a ready-mix application, for example as a ready-to-use (RTU) formulation, emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulation, suspension concentrate formulation, microemulsifiable concentrate, oil dispersion (OD) formulation, wettable powder (WP) formulation, water dispersible granule (WG), water soluble granule (SG) formulation, and in the case of a co-formulation or as a tank mix; however, they can also be observed when the active compounds are applied at different times (splitting) (packed, for example, as combipack or monodoses). It is also possible to apply the herbicides or the herbicide composition in a plurality of portions (sequential application), for example post-emergence applications or early post-emergence applications followed by medium or late post-emergence applications. If metobromuron and clomazone are to be applied as a tank mix, it has to be ensured that an obtained spray liquor is applied relatively quickly after preparation.

According to embodiments of the first aspect of the present invention, the herbicide components metobromuron and clomazone may be formulated together in an appropriate ratio of the present invention (combination formulation), together with conventional formulation aids as known in the art, such as, for example, one or more carriers.

In a preferred embodiment, the herbicide composition according to the first aspect of the present invention further comprises one or more additional components selected from the group comprising other pesticides such as herbicides, insecticides, fungicides or other active pesticide ingredients, safeners, antioxidants, chemical stabilizers, adhesives, fertilizers, perfumes, dyestuffs, liquid carriers, solid carriers, surface-active agents, crystallisation inhibitors, viscosity modifiers, suspending agents, spray droplet modifiers, pigments, foaming agents, light-blocking agents, compatibility agents, antifoam agents, sequestering agents, neutralising agents and buffers, wetting and dispersing agents, preservatives, thickening agents, corrosion inhibitors, freezing point depressants, odorants, spreading agents, penetration aids, micronutrients, emollients, lubricants, sticking agents and humectants, such as, for example, propylene glycol. According to preferred embodiments, the herbicide composition can also comprise various agrochemically active compounds, for example from the group of the acaricides, nematicides, bird repellants, and soil structure improvers.

Non-limiting examples of dyestuffs include inorganic pigments such as iron oxide, titanium oxide and Prussian blue and/or organic dyes such as alizarin dyes, azo dyes and metal phthalocyanine, and trace elements such as iron, manganese, boron, copper, cobalt, molybdenum and zinc.

In a preferred embodiment, said one or more additional herbicides are selected from the group comprising acetochlor, acifluorfen, aclonifen, acrolein, AKH-7088, alachlor, alloxydim, ametryn, amicarbazone, amidosulfuron, amitrole, ammonium sulfamate, anilofos, asulam, atrazine, azafenidin, azimsulfuron, BAS 625 H, beflubutamid, benazolin, benfluralin, benfuresate, bensulfuron-methyl, bensulide, bentazone, benzobicyclon, benzofenap, bicyclopyrone, bifenox, bilanafos, bispyribac-sodium, borax, bromacil, bromobutide, bromoxynil, butachlor, butafenacil, butamifos, butralin, butroxydim, butylate, cafenstrole, carbetamide, carfentrazone-ethyl, chloramben, chlorbromuron, chlorflurenol-methyl, chloridazon, chlorimuron-ethyl, chloroacetic acid, chlorotoluron, chlorpropham, chlorsulfuron, chlorthal-dimethyl, chlorthiamid, cinidon-ethyl, cinmethylin, cinosulfuron, clethodim, clodinafop-propargyl, clomeprop, clopyralid, cloransulam-methyl, cumyluron, cyanazine, cycloate, cyclosulfamuron, cycloxydim, cyhalofop-butyl, 2,4-D, daimuron, dalapon, dazomet, 2,4-DB, desmedipham, dicamba, dichlobenil, dichlorprop, dichlorprop-P, diclofop-methyl, diclosulam, difenzoquat metilsulfate, diflufenican, diflufenzopyr, dimefuron, dimepiperate, dimethachlor, dimethametryn, dimethenamid, dimethipin, dimethylarsinic acid, dinitramine, dinoterb, diphenamid, diquat dibromide, dithiopyr, diuron, DNOC, endothal, EPTC, esprocarb, ethalfluralin, ethametsulfuron-methyl, ethofumesate, ethoxysulfuron, etobenzanid, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, fentrazamide, fenuron, ferrous sulfate, flamprop-M, flazasulfuron, florasulam, fluazifop-butyl, fluazifop-P-butyl, fluazolate, flucarbazone-sodium, fluchloralin, flufenacet, flumetsulam, flumiclorac-pentyl, flumioxazin, fluometuron, fluoroglycofen-ethyl, flupropanate, flupyrsulfuron-methyl-sodium, flurenol, fluridone, flurochloridone, fluroxypyr, flurtamone, fluthiacet-methyl, fomesafen, fosamine, glufosinate-ammonium, glyphosate, halosulfuron-methyl, haloxyfop, HC-252, hexazinone, imazamethabenz-methyl, imazamox, imazapic, imazapyr, imazaquin, imazethapyr, imazosulfuron, indanofan, iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium, ioxynil, isoproturon, isouron, isoxaben, isoxachlortole, isoxaflutole, lactofen, lenacil, linuron, MCPA, MCPA-thioethyl, MCPB, mecoprop, mecoprop-P, mefenacet, mefluidide, mesotrione, metam, metamitron, metazachlor, methabenzthiazuron, methylarsonic acid, methyldymron, methyl isothiocyanate, metobenzuron, metolachlor, S-metolachlor, metosulam, metoxuron, metribuzin, metsulfuron-methyl, MK-616, MKH 6561, molinate, monolinuron, naproanilide, napropamide, naptalam, neburon, nicosulfuron, nonanoic acid, norflurazon, oleic acid (fatty acids), orbencarb, oryzalin, oxadiargyl, oxadiazon, oxasulfuron, oxaziclomefone, oxyfluorfen, paraquat dichloride, pebulate, pelargonic acid, pendimethalin, pentachlorophenol, pentanochlor, pentoxazone, petroleum oils, phenmedipham, picloram, picolinafen, piperophos, pretilachlor, primisulfuron-methyl, prodiamine, prometon, prometryn, propachlor, propanil, propaquizafop, propazine, propham, propisochlor, propyzamide, prosulfocarb, prosulfuron, pyraflufen-ethyl, pyrazolynate, pyrazosulfuron-ethyl, pyrasulfotole, pyrazoxyfen, pyribenzoxim, pyributicarb, pyridafol, pyridate, pyriminobac-methyl, pyrithiobac-sodium, quinclorac, quinmerac, quinoclamine, quizalofop, quizalofop-P, rimsulfuron, sethoxydim, siduron, simazine, simetryn, sodium chlorate, sulcotrione, sulfentrazone, sulfometuron-methyl, sulfosulfuron, sulfuric acid, tar oils, 2,3,6-TBA, TCA-sodium, tebutam, tebuthiuron, tefuryltrione, tembotrione, tepraloxydim, terbacil, terbumeton, terbuthylazine, terbutryn, thenylchlor, thiazopyr, thifensulfuron-methyl, thiobencarb, tiocarbazil, tolpyralate, topramezone, tralkoxydim, tri-allate, triasulfuron, triaziflam, tribenuron-methyl, triclopyr, trietazine, trifluralin, triflusulfuron-methyl, and vernolate.

In a preferred embodiment, said one or more additional insecticides are selected from the group comprising 5-(2-chloropyrid-5-ylmethyl)-3-methyl-4-nitroiminoperhydro-1,3,5-oxadiazine, 5-(2-chlorothiazol-5-ylmethyl)-3-methyl-4-nitroiminoperhydro-1,3,5-oxadiazine, 3-methyl-4-nitroimino-5-(1-oxido-3-pyridinomethyl)perhydro-1,3,5-oxadiazine, 5-(2-chloro-1-oxido-5-pyridiniomethyl)-3-methyl-4-nitroiminoperhydro-1,3,5-oxidiazine, 3-methyl-5-(2-methylpyrid-5-ylmethyl)-4-nitroiminoperhydro-1,3,5-oxadiazine, thiamethoxam (CAS RN 153719-23-4), acetamiprid ((E)-N-[(6-chloro-3-pyridinyl)methyl]-N′-cyano-N-methyleneimidamide, CAS RN 135410-20-7), imidacloprid (1-[(6-chloro-3-pyridinyl)methyl]-N-nitro-2-imidazolidinimime, CAS RN 138261-41-3), nitenpyram (N-[(6-chloro-3-pyridinyl)methyl]-N-ethyl-N′-methyl-2-nitro-1,1-ethenediamine, CAS RN 120738-89-8), clothianidin (TI-435; N-[(2-chloro-5-thiazoyl)methyl]-N′-methyl-N″-nitro,[C(E)]-(9C1)-guanidine, CAS RN 210880-92-5), dinotefuran (N-methyl-N′-nitro-N″-[(tetrahydro-3-furanyl)methyl)]guanidine; CAS RN 165252-70-0), acephate (CAS RN 30560-19-1), chlorpyrifos (CAS RN 2921-88-2), chlorpyrifos-methyl (CAS RN 5598-13-0), diazinon (CAS RN 333-41-5), fenamiphos (CAS RN 22224-92-6), malathion (CAS RN 121-75-5), aldicarb (CAS RN 116-06-3), carbaryl (CAS RN 63-25-2), carbofuran (CAS RN 1563-66-2), oxamyl (CAS RN 23135-22-0) and thiodicarb (CAS RN 59669-26-0).

In a preferred embodiment, said one or more additional fungicides are selected from the group comprising respiration inhibitors selected from the group comprising azoxystrobin, dimoxystrobin, enestroburin, fluoxastro-bin, kresoxim-methyl, meto-minostrobin, orysastrobin, picoxy-strobin, pyraclostrobin, pyrametostrobin, pyraoxystrobin, pyribencarb, trifloxystrobin, methyl(2-chloro-5 [1-(3-methylbenzyl-oxy-imino)-ethyl]benzyl)-carba-mate, 2 (2-(3-(2,6-di-chlorophenyl)-1-methyl-allylidene-aminooxy-methyl)-phenyl)-2-methoxyimino-N methyl-acetamide, famoxadone, fenamidone, benodanil, bixafen, boscalid, carboxin, fen-furam, fenhexamid, fluopyram, flutolanil, furametpyr, isopyrazam, isotianil, mepronil, oxycarboxin, penflufen, penthiopyrad, sedaxane, tecloftalam, thifluz-amide, tiadinil, 2-amino-4 methyl-thiazole-5-carbox-anilide, N-(3′,4′,5′ tri-fluoro-bi-phenyl-2 yl)-3-difluoro-methyl-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4 carboxamide, N-(4′-tri-fluoro-methyl-thiobi-phenyl-2-yl)-3 difluoromethyl-1-methyl-1H pyrazole-4-carbox-amide, N-(2-(1,3,3-trimethyl-butyl)-phenyl)-1,3-dimethyl-5 fluoro-1H-pyrazole-4 carbox-amide, cyazofamid, amisulbrom, diflumetorim, binapacryl, dinobuton, dinocap, fluazinam, nitrthal-isopropyl, tecnazen, ferimzone, fentin salts, ametoctradin and silthiofam; sterol biosynthesis inhibitors (SBI fungicides) selected from the group comprising azaconazole, bitertanol, bromuconazole, cyproconazole, difenoconazole, diniconazole, diniconazole-M, epoxiconazole, fenbuconazole, fluquinconazole, flusilazole, flutriafol, hexaconazole, imibenconazole, ipconazole, metconazole, myclobutanil, paclobutrazole, penconazole, propiconazole, prothio-conazole, simeconazole, tebuconazole, tetraconazole, triadimefon, triadimenol, triticonazole, uniconazole, imazalil, pefurazoate, oxpoconazole, prochloraz, triflumizole, fenarimol, nuarimol, pyrifenox, triforine, aldimorph, dodemorph, dodemorph-acetate, fenpropimorph, tridemorph, fenpropidin, piperalin, spiroxamine, fenhexamid, benalaxyl, benalaxyl-M, kiralaxyl, metalaxyl, metalaxyl-M (mefenoxam), ofurace, oxadixyl, hymexazole, octhilinone, oxolinic acid, bupirimate, benomyl, carbendazim, fuberidazole, thiabendazole, thiophanate-methyl, 5-chloro-7(4-methyl-piperidin-1-yl)-6-(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)-[1,2,4]tri-azolo-[1,5a]pyrimidine, diethofencarb, ethaboxam, pencycuron, fluopicolide, zoxamide, metrafenone, cyprodinil, mepanipyrim, nitrapyrin, pyrimethanil, blasticidin-S, kasugamycin, kasugamycin hydrochloride-hydrate, mildiomycin, streptomycin, oxytetracyclin, polyoxine, validamycin A, fluoroimid, iprodione, procymidone, vinclozolin, fenpiclonil, fludioxonil, quinoxyfen, edifenphos, iprobenfos, pyrazophos, isoprothiolane, dicloran, quintozene, tecnazene, tolclofos-methyl, biphenyl, chloroneb, etridiazole, dimethomorph, flumorph, mandiproamid, pyrimorph, benthiavalicarb, iprovalicarb, pyribencarb, valifenalate, N-(1-(1-(4-cyano-phenyl)-ethanesulfonyl)-but-2-yl) carbamic acid-(4-fluorophenyl) ester, propamocarb, propamo-carb-hydrochlorid, Bordeaux mixture, copper acetate, copper hydroxide, copper oxychloride, basic copper sulfate, sulfur, ferbam, mancozeb, maneb, metam, methasulphocarb, metiram, propineb, thiram, zineb, ziram, anilazine, chlorothalonil, captafol, captan, folpet, dichlofluanid, dichlorophen, flusulfamide, hexachlorobenzene, pentachlorphenole and its salts, phthalide, tolylfluanid, N-(4-chloro-2-nitro-phenyl)-N-ethyl-4-methyl-benzenesulfonamide, guanidine, dodine, dodine free base, guazatine, guazatine-acetate, iminoctadine, iminoctadine-triacetate, iminoctadine-tris(albesilate), dithianon, validamycin, polyoxin B, pyroquilon, tricyclazole, carpropamide, dicyclomet, fenoxanil, acibenzolar-S-methyl, probenazole, isotianil, tiadinil, prohexadione-calcium, fosetyl, fosetyl-aluminum, phosphorous acid and its salts, bronopol, chinomethionat, cyflufenamid, cymoxanil, dazomet, debacarb, diclomezine, difenzoquat, difenzoquat-methylsulfate, diphenylamin, flumetover, flusulfamide, flutianil, methasulfocarb, oxin-copper, proquinazid, tebufloquin, tecloftalam, triazoxide, 2-butoxy-6-iodo-3-propylchromen-4-one, N-(cyclo-propylmethoxyimino-(6-difluoro-methoxy-2,3-difluoro-phenyl)-methyl)-2-phenyl acetamide, N′-(4-(4-chloro-3-trifluoromethyl-phenoxy)-2,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-N-ethyl-N methyl formamidine, N′ (4-(4-fluoro-3-trifluoromethyl-phenoxy)-2,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-N-ethyl-N-methyl formamidine, N′-(2-methyl-5-trifluoromethyl-4-(3-trimethyl-silanyl-prop-oxy)-phenyl)-N-ethyl-N-methyl formamidine, N′-(5-difluoromethyl-2 methyl-4-(3-tri-methylsilanyl-propoxy)-phenyl)-N-ethyl-N-methyl formamidine, 2-{1-(1-[2-(5-methyl-3-trifluoromethyl-pyrazole-1-yl)-acetyl]-piperidin-4-yl}-thiazole-4-carboxylic acid methyl-(1,2,3,4-tetra hydro-naphthalen-1-yl)-amide, 2-{1-(1-[2-(5-meth-yl-3-trifluoromethyl-pyrazole-1-O-acetyl]-piperidin-4-yl}-thiazole-4-carboxylic acid methyl-(R)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-naphthalen-1-yl-amide, methoxy-acetic acid 6-tert-butyl-8-fluoro-2,3-dimethyl-quinolin-4-yl ester, N-Methyl-2-{1-[(5-methyl-3-trifluoro-methyl-1H-pyr-azol-1-yl)-acetyl]-piperi-din-4-yl}-N-[(1R)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-naphthalen-1-yl]-4-thi-azolecarboxamide, 3-[5-(4-chloro-phenyl)-2,3-dimethyl-isoxazolidin-3 yl]-pyridine, 3-[5-(4-methyl-phenyl)-2,3-dimethyl-isoxazolidin-3-yl]-pyridine, 5-amino-2-iso-propyl-3-oxo-4-ortho-tolyl-2,3-dihydro-pyrazole-1 carbo-thioic acid S-allyl ester, N-(6-methoxy-pyridin-3-yl)cyclopropanecarboxylic acid amide, 5-chloro-1 (4,6-dimethoxy-pyrimidin-2-yl)-2-methyl-1H-benzoimidazole, 2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-N-[4-(3,4-dimeth-oxy-phenyl)-isoxazol-5-yl]-2-prop-2-ynyloxy-acetamide, abscisic acid, amidochlor, ancymidol, 6-benzylaminopurine, brassinolide, butralin, chlormequat (chlormequat chloride), choline chloride, cyclanilide, daminozide, dike-gulac, dimethipin, 2,6-dimethylpuridine, ethephon, flumetralin, flurprimidol, fluthi-acet, forchlorfenuron, gibberellic acid, inabenfide, indole-3-acetic acid, maleic hydrazide, mefluidide, mepiquat (mepiquat chloride), naphthaleneacetic acid, N 6 benzyladenine, paclobutrazol, prohexadione (prohexadione-calcium), prohydrojasmon, thidiazuron, triapenthenol, tributyl phosphorotrithioate, 2,3,5 tri iodobenzoic acid, trinexapac-ethyl and uniconazole, and antifungal biocontrol agents.

Whilst compositions comprising metobromuron and clomazone according to the first aspect of the invention and also one or more additional pesticides such as herbicides, insecticides, fungicides or other active pesticide ingredients are disclosed above, the skilled man will appreciate that the invention extends to further multiple combinations comprising the above mixtures. For the avoidance of doubt, even if not explicitly stated here, mixing partners may also be in the form of any suitable agrochemically acceptable ester or salt, as mentioned e.g. in The Pesticide Manual, Thirteenth Edition, British Crop Protection Council, 2003.

Suitable agricultural adjuvants and carriers that are useful in formulating the compositions of the invention in the formulation types described above are well known to those skilled in the art. Suitable examples of the different classes are found in the non-limiting lists below.

Liquid carriers that can be employed include water and one or more solvents selected from the group comprising toluene, xylene, petroleum naphta, p-diethyl benzene, isopropyl benzene, m-xylene, o-xylene, p-xylene; cyclohexane, hexadecane, isooctane, n-hexane; paraffin oil, mineral oil, crop oil; chlorobenzene, 1,2-dichloropropane, 1.1.-trichloroethane, methylene chloride, trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene; alpha-pinene, d-limonene; lactic acid and ester derivatives, such as methyl lactate, ethyl lactate, butyl lactate, 2-ethylhexyl lactate; octadecanoic acid, oleic acid, propionic acid, xylene sulphonic acid and their ester forms; cyclohexanol, diacetone alcohol, diethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, 2-ethyl hexanol, ethylene glycol, phenol, polyethylene glycol (PEG400), propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and higher molecular weight alcohols such as amyl alcohol, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, hexanol, octanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, benzyl alcohol; acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, cyclohexanone, acetophenone, 2-butanone, 2-heptanone, gamma-butyrolactone, glycerol, isophorone, mesityl oxide, methyl isoamyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone; diethylene glycol butyl ether, diethylene glycol ethyl ether, 1,4-dioxane, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol ethers (diproxitol), ethylene glycol butyl ether, ethylene glycol methyl ether, methoxy propanol, propylene glycol monomethyl ether; alkyl acetates such as ethyl acetate, propyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, amyl acetate, isoamyl acetate, isobornyl acetate, octyl amine acetate, glycerol monoacetate, glycerol diacetate, glycerol triacetate, 2-ethyl hexyl stearate, methyl oleate, n-butyl oleate, isopropyl myristate, methyl laurate, methyl octanoate, diethylene glycol abietate, dipropylene glycol dibenzoate, propylene glycol dioleate, di-octyl succinate, di-butyl adipate, di-octyl phthalate, triethyl phosphate, dibasic esters (dimethyl glutarate+dimethyl succinate+dimethyl adipate), butyl benzoate; ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate and butylene carbonate; diethanolamine, laurylamine, n-octylamine, oleylamine; N,N-dimethyl alkylamides such as N,N-dimethyl formamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, N,N-dimethyl octan/decanamide, N,N-dimethyl decanamide, N,N-dimethyl dodecanamide, dimethyl lactamide; methyl 5-(dimethylamino)-4-methyl-5-oxopentanote; alkyl pyrrolidinones, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinone; dimethyl sulfoxide; acetonitrile; acetic anhydride; and the like, soybean oil, rapeseed oil, sunflower seed oil, corn oil, cotton seed oil, linseed oil, safflower oil, olive oil, peanut oil, castor oil, palm oil, coconut oil, sesame oil, tung oil and the like; esters of the above vegetable oils, and the like. Water is generally the carrier of choice for the dilution of concentrates.

Suitable solid carriers include talc, titanium dioxide, pyrophyllite clay, silica, kaolin clay, attapulgite clay, kieselguhr, chalk, diatomaceous earth, lime, montmorillonite clay, lime, calcium carbonate, bentonite clay, fuller's earth, cottonseed hulls, wheat flour, soybean flour, pumice, wood floor, walnut shell flour, lignin, cellulose and the like.

A broad range of surface-active agents are advantageously employed in both said liquid and solid compositions, especially those designed to be diluted with carrier before application. Surface-active agents, also known as surfactants, are compounds that lower the surface tension (or interfacial tension) between two liquids or between a liquid and a solid. Surface-active agents can be anionic, cationic, non-ionic or polymeric in character and may act as detergents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, foaming agents, and dispersants. Many organic compounds exhibit some surface-active properties; however specifically for the purposes of the invention nonionic surface-active agents can be used. Prominent among these are the fatty alcohols, such as cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, and cetostearyl alcohol (consisting predominantly of cetyl and stearyl alcohols), and oleyl alcohol; but also polyethylene glycol alkyl ethers such as octaethylene glycol monododecyl ether and pentaethylene glycol monododecyl ether; polypropylene glycol alkyl ethers; polyethylene glycol-polypropylene glycol alkyl ethers; glucoside alkyl ethers such as decyl glucoside, lauryl glucoside or octyl glucoside; polyethylene glycol octylphenyl ethers; polyethylene glycol nonylphenyl ethers; polyethylene glycol tributylphenyl ethers; polyethylene glycol tristyrylphenyl ethers; polyethylene glycol-polypropylene glycol tristyrylphenyl ethers; glycerol alkyl esters such as glyceryl laurate; polyoxyethylene glycol sorbitan alkyl esters, such as polysorbates; sorbitan alkyl esters, such as spans; cocamide MEA or DEA; dodecyldimethylamine oxide; block copolymers of polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol, such as poloxamers; polyethoxylated tallow amine (POEA); vegetable oil ethoxylates, such as castor oil ethoxylates, rapeseed oil ethoxylates, soybean oil ethoxylates; and the like, salts of alkyl sulfates, such as diethanolammonium lauryl sulfate; alkylarylsulfonate salts, such as calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate; soaps, such as sodium stearate; alkylnaphtalene-sulfonate salts, such as sodium dibutylnaphtalenesulfonate; dialkyl esters of sulfosuccinate salts, such as sodium di-(2-ethyl hexyl) sulfosuccinate; salts of mono and dialkyl phosphate esters; quaternary amines, such as lauryl trimethylammonium chloride and the like.

The compositions can be formulated with liquid and solid fertilizers, such as particulate fertilizers like ammonium nitrate, urea and the like.

In a preferred embodiment, the herbicide composition according to the first aspect of the present invention additionally comprises one or more compounds that function to improve crop plant compatibility, selected from the group comprising 4-dichloroacetyl-1-oxa-4-aza-spiro[4.5]-decane (AD-67, MON-4660), 1-dichloro-acetyl-hexahydro-3,3,8a-trimethylpyrrolo[1,2-a]-pyrimidin-6(2H)-one (dicyclonon, BAS-145138), 4-dichloroacetyl-3,4-dihydro-3-methyl-2H-1,4-benzoxazine (benoxacor), 1-methyl-hexyl 5-chloro-quinolin-8-oxy-acetate (cloquintocet-mexyl-cf. also related compounds in EP-A-86750, EP-A-94349, EP-A-191736, EP-A-492366), 3-(2-chloro-benzyl)-1-(1-methyl-1-phenyl-ethyl)-urea (cumyluron), α-(cyano methoximino)-phenylacetonitrile (cyometrinil), 2,4-dichloro-phenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 4-(2,4-dichloro-phenoxy)-butyric acid (2,4-DB), 1-(1-methyl-1-phenyl-ethyl)-3-(4-methyl-phenyl)-urea (daimuron, dymron), 3,6-dichloro-2-methoxy-benzoic acid (dicamba), S-1-methyl-1-phenyl-ethyl piperidine-1-thiocarboxylate (dimepiperate), 2,2-dichloro-N-(2-oxo-2-(2-propenylamino)-ethyl)-N-(2-propenyl)-acetamide (DKA-24), 2,2-dichloro-N,N-di-2-propenyl-acetamide (dichlormid), 4,6-dichloro-2-phenyl-pyrimidine (fenclorim), ethyl 1-(2,4-dichloro-phenyl)-5-trichloromethyl-1H-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxylate (fenchlorazole-ethyl-cf. also related compounds in EP-A-174562 and EP-A-346620), phenylmethyl 2-chloro-4-trifluoromethyl-thiazole-5-carboxylate (flurazole), 4-chloro-N-(1,3-dioxolan-2-yl-methoxy)-α-trifluoro acetophenone oxime (fluxofenim), 3-dichloroacetyl-5-(2-furanyl)-2,2-dimethyl-oxazolidine (furilazole, MON-13900), ethyl 4,5-dihydro-5,5-diphenyl-3-isoxazolecarboxylate (isoxadifen-ethyl-cf. also related compounds in WO-A-95/07897), 1-(ethoxycarbonyl)-ethyl 3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoate (lactidichlor), (4-chloro-o-tolyloxy)-acetic acid (MCPA), 2-(4-chloro-o-tolyloxy)-propionic acid (mecoprop), diethyl 1-(2,4-dichloro-phenyl)-4,5-dihydro-5-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3,5-dicarboxylate (mefenpyr-diethyl-cf. also related compounds in WO-A-91/07874), 2-dichloromethyl-2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane (MG-191), 2-propenyl-1-oxa-4-azaspiro[4.5]decane 4-carbodithioate (MG-838), 1,8-naphthalic anhydride, α-(1,3-dioxolan-2-yl-methoximino)-phenylacetonitrile (oxabetrinil), 2,2-dichloro-N-(1,3-dioxolan-2-yl-methyl)-N-(2-propenyl)-acetamide (PPG-1292), 3-dichloroacetyl-2,2-dimethyl-oxazolidine (R-28725), 3-dichloroacetyl-2,2,5-trimethyl-oxazolidine (R-29148), 4-(4-chloro-o-tolyl)-butyric acid, 4-(4-chloro-phenoxy)-butyric acid, diphenylmethoxyacetic acid, methyl diphenylmethoxyacetate, ethyl diphenyl-methoxyacetate, methyl 1-(2-chloro-phenyl)-5-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate, ethyl 1-(2,4-dichloro-phenyl)-5-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate, ethyl 1-(2,4-dichloro-phenyl)-5-isopropyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate, ethyl 1-(2,4-dichloro-phenyl)-5-(1,1-dimethyl-ethyl)-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate, ethyl 1-(2,4-dichloro-phenyl)-5-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate (cf also related compounds in EP-A-269806 and EP-A-333131), ethyl 5-(2,4-dichloro-benzyl)-2-isoxazoline-3-carboxylate, ethyl 5-phenyl-2-isoxazoline-3-carboxylate, ethyl 5-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-5-phenyl-2-isoxazoline-3-carboxylate (cf. also related compounds in WO-A-91/08202), 1,3-dimethyl-but-1-yl 5-chloro-quinolin-8-oxy-acetate, 4-allyloxy-butyl 5-chloro-quinolin-8-oxy-acetate, 1-allyloxy-prop-2-yl 5-chloro-quinolin-8-oxy-acetate, methyl 5-chloro-quinoxalin-8-oxy-acetate, ethyl 5-chloro-quinolin-8-oxy-acetate, allyl 5-chloro-quinoxalin-8-oxy-acetate, 2-oxo-prop-1-yl 5-chloro-quinolin-8-oxy-acetate, diethyl 5-chloro-quinolin-8-oxy-malonate, diallyl 5-chloro-quinoxalin-8-oxy-malonate, diethyl 5-chloro-quinolin-8-oxy-malonate (cf. also related compounds in EP-A-582198), 4-carboxy-chroman-4-yl-acetic acid (AC-304415, cf. EP-A-613618), 4-chloro-phenoxy-acetic acid, 3,3′-dimethyl-4-methoxy-benzophenone, 1-bromo-4-chloromethylsulphonyl-benzene, 1-[4-(N-2-methoxybenzoylsulphamoyl)-phenyl]-3-methyl-urea (alias N-(2-methoxy-benzoyl)-4-[(methylamino-carbonyl)-amino]-benzenesulphonamide), 1-[4-(N-2-methoxybenzoylsulphamoyl)-phenyl]-3,3-dimethyl-urea, 1-[4-(N-4,5-dimethylbenzoylsulphamoyl)-phenyl]-3-methyl-urea, 1-[4-(N-naphthylsulphamoyl)-phenyl]-3,3-dimethyl-urea, and N-(2-methoxy-5-methyl-benzoyl)-4-(cyclopropylaminocarbonyl)-benzenesulphonamide.

-   -   In a most preferred embodiment, the herbicide composition         according to the first aspect of the present invention is         provided as a tank mixture, wherein metobromuron and clomazone         are to be combined prior to use, in which said metobromuron is         present in a concentration of 0.5 to 60 g/L water, more         preferably of 0.8 to 30 g/L water, and even more preferably of 1         to 10 g/L water, and in which said clomazone is present in a         concentration of 0.05 to 3 g/L water, more preferably of 0.08 to         1.5 g/L water, and even more preferably of 0.1 to 0.5 g/L water.         Preferably, said concentration ranges of metobromuron are         prepared by mixing a suspension concentrate of metrobromuron         with water. Preferably, said concentration ranges of clomazone         are prepared by mixing a capsule suspension of clomazone with         water.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a kit comprising one or more spatially separated components to be used as a herbicide composition, comprising as component (A) an herbicidally active amount of metobromuron and as component (B) clomazone, which components are for simultaneous, separate or sequential use.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a kit according to the second aspect of the invention, comprising one or more spatially separated components according to the herbicide composition according to the first aspect of the present invention.

A kit according to embodiments of the second aspect of the present invention allows for controlling unwanted vegetation in a flexible and modular manner. In particular, uses of said kit include simultaneous, separate or sequential use of the herbicide components.

In embodiments, a use of kit according to the second aspect of the invention involves separate application of the components of the kit, or the use of a mixture of one or more components of the kit, for example as tank mixtures.

In one embodiment, a use of the kit includes sequential use or sequential use of different herbicide components of the kit. This makes it possible to apply several components for a different period, possibly several times. As a result, for example, one or more herbicide components can be applied before or early after emergence of unwanted vegetation while one or more other components of the kit can only be applied later after emergence of unwanted vegetation. Nevertheless, a user can still provide a combination formulation, such as, for example, a ready-to-use formulation, in order to jointly apply the herbicide components, either in a prescribed, desired or adapted weight ratio.

The use of a kit according to the second aspect of the present invention allows for a high degree of modularity. This has the advantage that a user can adjust the applied amount, the dosage and/or the composition of one or more herbicide components and/or a combination formulation thereof as desired, for example depending on the relative amount of specific unwanted vegetation.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a use of a herbicide composition according to the first aspect of the present invention for controlling one or more types of unwanted vegetation by applying the herbicide composition to the unwanted vegetation and/or a habitat thereof.

The herbicide composition according to the first aspect of the present invention has very good herbicidal properties and can be used for controlling unwanted vegetation.

The herbicide composition according to the first aspect of the present invention can be used, for example, in connection with one or more species of the following unwanted vegetation: one or more species from the Cyperaceae family such as green kyllinga (Kyllinga brevifolia Rottb. var. leiolepis), sedge (Cyperus spp.), for which the sedge may, for example, be purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.), smallflower umbrella sedge (Cyperus difformis L.), yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus L.) and amur cyperus (Cyperus microiria Steud.), one or more species from the Gramineae family such as barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli L., Echinochloa oryzicola Vasing.), Japanese millet (Echinochloa utilis Ohwi et Yabuno), crabgrass (Digitaria spp.), of which the crabgrass may, for example, be summergrass (Digitaria ciliaris (Retz.) Koel), large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis L.), violet crabgrass (Digitaria violascens Link) or Digitaria horizontalis Willd., green foxtail (Setaria viridis L.), giant foxtail (Setaria faberi Herrm.), goosegrass (Eleusine indica L.), johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.), bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.), wild oat (Avena fatua L.), annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.), panic grass (Panicum spp.), of which the panic grass may, for example, be guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.), or fall panicum (Panicum dichotomiflorum (L.) Michx.), and signal grass (Brachiaria spp.), one or more species from the Scrophulariaceae family such as persian speedwell (Veronica persica Poir.), corn speedwell (Veronica arvensis L.), compositae such as beggar ticks (Bidens spp.), of which the beggar ticks may, for example, be hairy beggar ticks (Bidens pilosa L.), devils beggar ticks (Bidens frondosa L.), Bidens biternata (Lour.) Merr. et Sherff, or beggarticks (Bidens subalternans DC.), hairy fleabane (Conyza bonariensis (L.) Cronq.), horseweed (Erigeron canadensis L.), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Weber), and common cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium L.), one or more species from the Caryophyllaceae family such as sticky chickweed (Cerastium glomeratum Thuill.) and common chickweed (Stellaria media L.), one or more species from the Euphorbiaceae family such as garden spurge (Euphorbia hirta L.), threeseeded copperleaf (Acalypha australis L.) and fireplant (Euphorbia heterophylla L.), one or more species from the Plantaginaceae family such as Asiatic plantain (Plantago asiatica L.), Oxalidaceae such as creeping woodsorrel (Oxalis corniculata L.), Apiaceae such as lawn pennywort (Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides Lam.), one or more species from the Violaceae family such as violet (Viola mandshurica W. Becker); Iridaceae such as blue-eyedgrass (Sisyrinchium rosulatum Bicknell), one or more species from the Geraniaceae family such as carolina geranium (Geranium carolinianum L.), Labiatae such as purple deadnettle (Lamium purpureum L.) and henbit (Lamium amplexicaule L.), one or more species from the Malvaceae family such as velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti MEDIC.) and prickly sida (Sida spinosa L.), one or more species from the Convolvulaceae family such as field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis L.), one or more species from the Chenopodiaceae family such as common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.), one or more species from the Portulacaceae such as common purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.), one or more species from the Amaranthaceae such as pigweed (Amaranthus spp.), of which the pigweed may, for example, be prostrate pigweed (Amaranthus blitoides S. Wats.), livid amaranth (Amaranthus lividus L.), purple amaranth (Amaranthus blitum L.), smooth pigweed (Amaranthus hybridus L.), Amaranthus patulus Bertol., powell amaranth (Amaranthus powellii S.Wats.), slender amaranth (Amaranthus viridis L.), palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S.Wats.), redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.), tall waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) Sauer.), common waterhemp (Amaranthus tamariscinus Nutt.), thorny amaranth (Amaranthus spinosus L.), ataco (Amaranthus quitensis Kunth.) and Amaranthus rudis Sauer, one or more species from the Solanaceae family such as black nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.), one or more speices from the Polygonaceae family such as spotted knotweed (Polygonum lapathifolium L.), green smartweed (Polygonum scabrum MOENCH), Oriental lady's thumb (Persicaria longiseta) and Nepalese Smartweed (Persicaria nepalensis (Meisn.) H. Gross), one or more species from the Cruciferae family such as flexuous bittercress (Cardamine flexuosa WITH.), one or more species from the Cucurbitaceae family such as burcucumber (Sicyos angulatus L.), one or more species from the Molluginacea family such as carpetweed (Mollugo verticillata L.) and one or more species from the Rubiaceae family such as false cleavers (Galium spurium var. echinospermon (Wallr.) Hayek) and stickywilly (Galium aparine L.).

The herbicide composition according to the first aspect of the present invention may also be used for desiccation of potatoes, side shoot control in vines, sucker control in top fruits, soft fruits, olives and kiwi, desiccation and defoliation of cotton and desiccation of sunflower.

Preferably, the herbicide composition according to the first aspect of the present invention is applied pre-emergence, and/or shortly before or around emergence. If the herbicide composition is applied post-emergence to the green parts of the unwanted vegetation, growth likewise stops drastically a very short time after the treatment, and the unwanted vegetation remains at the growth stage of the point of time of application, or they die completely after a certain time, so that in this manner infestation of unwanted vegetation is eliminated very early and in a sustained manner.

In an embodiment, the herbicide composition according to the first aspect of the present invention can be used as total herbicide for controlling unwanted vegetation, for example in particular on non-crop areas such as paths, squares and also under trees and shrubs, rail tracks etc. The herbicide composition according to the first aspect of the present invention is distinguished by an action which has a particularly quick onset and lasts for a long time.

The herbicide composition according to the first aspect of the present invention can be prepared by known processes, for example as mixed formulations or emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulations of the individual components, if appropriate with further active compounds, additives and/or customary formulation auxiliaries, which combinations are then applied in a customary manner diluted with water, or as tank mixes by dilution of components, formulated separately or formulated partially separately, with water. Also possible is the split application of the separately formulated or partially separately formulated individual components. It is also possible to use metobromuron or clomazone or the herbicide combination in a plurality of portions (sequential application), for example by the post-emergence method or early post-emergence applications followed by medium or late post-emergence applications.

A preferred variant of the invention relates to processes for controlling unwanted vegetation where component (A) and component (B) of the herbicide combination according to the invention are mixed only shortly before application onto the unwanted vegetation and/or their habitat. According to the invention, “shortly before application” means that component (A) and component (B) are mixed preferably less than 6 hours, more preferably less than 3 hours and even more preferably less than 1 hour before application onto the unwanted vegetation and/or their habitat.

Other than that, the metobromuron and clomazone provided in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention can be converted together or separately into customary formulations, such as solutions, emulsions, suspensions, powders, foams, pastes, granules, aerosols, natural and synthetic materials impregnated with active compound and microencapsulations in polymeric materials. The formulations may comprise the customary auxiliaries and additives.

These formulations are produced in a known manner, for example by mixing the active compounds with extenders, i.e. liquid solvents, pressurized liquefied gases and/or solid carriers, optionally with use of surface-active agents, i.e. emulsifiers and/or dispersants and/or foam formers. If the extender used is water, it is also possible to use, for example, organic solvents as auxiliary solvents. Suitable liquid solvents are essentially: aromatics such as xylene, toluene or alkylnaphthalenes, chlorinated aromatics or chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons such as chlorobenzenes, chloroethylenes or methylene chloride, aliphatic hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane or paraffins, for example mineral oil fractions, mineral and vegetable oils, such as soybean oil, alcohols such as butanol or glycol and the ethers and esters thereof, ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone or cyclohexanone, strongly polar solvents such as dimethylformamide or dimethyl sulfoxide, and water. Useful solid carriers include: for example ammonium salts and ground natural minerals, such as kaolins, clays, talc, chalk, quartz, attapulgite, montmorillonite or diatomaceous earth, and ground synthetic minerals, such as finely divided silica and hydrophobic silica, alumina and silicates; useful solid carriers for granules include: for example crushed and fractionated natural rocks, such as calcite, marble, pumice, sepiolite, dolomite and synthetic granules of inorganic and organic flours, and granules of organic material, such as sawdust, coconut shells, corn cobs and tobacco stalks; useful emulsifiers and/or foam formers include: for example non-ionic and anionic emulsifiers, such as polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene fatty alcohol ethers, e.g. alkylaryl polyglycol ethers, alkylsulfonates, alkylsulfates, arylsulfonates and protein hydrolyzates; useful dispersants include: for example lignosulfite waste liquors and methylcellulose.

In the formulations, it is possible to use tackifiers such as carboxymethylcellulose, natural and synthetic polymers in the form of powders, granules or latices, such as gum arabic, polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl acetate, or else natural phospholipids such as cephalins and lecithins and synthetic phospholipids. Further additives may be mineral and vegetable oils.

It is possible to use colorants such as inorganic pigments, for example iron oxide, titanium oxide and Prussian blue, and organic colorants such as alizarin colorants, azo colorants and metal phthalocyanine colorants, and trace nutrients such as salts of iron, manganese, boron, copper, cobalt, molybdenum and zinc.

Preferably, the formulations comprise between 0.1 and 95% by weight of active compound, preferably between 0.2 and 90% by weight.

In a preferred embodiment of the use according to the third aspect of the present invention, said one or more types of unwanted vegetation are selected from one or more species of one or more families selected from the group comprising Cyperaceae, Gramineae, Scrophulariaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Plantaginaceae, Violaceae, Geraniaceae, Malvaceae, Convolvulaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Portulacaceae, Amaranthaceae, Solanaceae, Polygonaceae, Cruciferae, Cucurbitaceae, Molluginacea and Rubiaceae.

In a preferred embodiment of the use according to the third aspect of the present invention, said herbicide composition is applied onto said one or more types of unwanted vegetation shortly before or around emergence of one or more crop types in proximity of said unwanted vegetation, wherein the herbicide composition is reapplied at a specified time interval of 3 days to 10 days, more preferably 4 to 8 days and most preferably 5 to 7 days until harvest of said one or more crop types. Preferably, potato is selected as a crop.

In a preferred embodiment of the use according to the third aspect of the present invention, said herbicide composition is applied by spraying, sprinkling, showering, spritzing, spreading in droplets, watering, atomizing, spattering, dispersing, diffusing, broadcasting and/or douching.

In a preferred embodiment of the use according to the third aspect of the present invention, said herbicide composition is applied in a target dose rate of 200 to 2000 g, more preferably 300 to 1800 g, even more preferably 400 to 1600 g, even more more preferably of 500 to 1500 g, even more preferably of 800 to 1400 g, yet even more preferably of 900 to 1300 g and most preferably of 950 to 1250 g of metobromuron and of 10 to 180 g, more preferably of 15 to 150 g, even more preferably of 20 to 120 g, yet even more preferably of 25 to 100 g, even more preferably of 30 to 90 g, yet even more preferably of 35 to 80 g and most preferably of 40 to 75 g of clomazone per hectare of land. Said amounts of metobromuron and clomazone are to be interpreted as amounts of active substance, or in other words, as amounts of 100% active compound. Within said ranges of target dose rates, the composition comprising metobromuron and clomazone can be used to control a relatively wide spectrum of unwanted vegetation.

The herbicide composition according to the first aspect of the present invention can be used as such, in the form of its formulations or in the use forms prepared therefrom by further dilution, such as ready-to-use formulations, suspensions, emulsions, powders, pastes and granules. The herbicide composition according to the first aspect of the present invention can be applied in the form of finished formulations. However, the active compounds contained in the herbicide composition can, as individual formulations, also be mixed prior to use, i.e. be applied in the form of tank mixes or a tank mixture.

In a preferred embodiment of the use according to the third aspect of the present invention, said herbicide composition is applied as a tank mixture, wherein metobromuron and clomazone are combined prior to use.

In another preferred embodiment of the use according to the third aspect of the present invention, said herbicide composition is applied as a ready-to-use formulation.

In a preferred embodiment of the use according to the third aspect of the present invention, said herbicide composition is applied by applying metobromuron in a concentration of 0.5 to 60 g/L water, more preferably of 0.8 to 30 g/L water, and even more preferably of 1 to 10 g/L water at a target dose rate of 30 to 600 L, more preferably 80 to 500 L, even more preferably 130 to 400 L and most preferably 150 to 350 L per hectare of land and by applying clomazone in a concentration of 0.05 to 3 g/L water, more preferably of 0.08 to 1.5 g/L water, and even more preferably of 0.1 to 0.5 g/L water at a target dose rate of 30 to 600 L, more preferably of 80 to 500 L, even more preferably of 130 to 400 L, and most preferably of 150 to 350 L per hectare of land. Preferably, said concentration ranges of metobromuron are prepared by mixing a suspension concentrate of metrobromuron with water. Preferably, said concentration ranges of clomazone are prepared by mixing a capsule suspension of clomazone with water.

The good herbicidal action of the herbicide composition according to the present invention can be seen from the examples which follow. While the individual active compounds show weaknesses in their herbicidal action, all combinations show a very good action on unwanted vegetation which exceeds a simple sum of actions.

A synergistic effect in herbicides is always present when the herbicidal action of the active compound combination exceeds the action of the active compounds when applied individually.

The expected activity of a given combination of two or three herbicides can be calculated as follows according to a calculation method by Colby (cf. COLBY, S. R.:

“Calculating synergistic and antagonistic responses of herbicide combinations”, Weeds 15, pages 20-22, 1967):

If X=% damage by herbicide (A) at an application rate of m g/ha,

Y=% damage by herbicide (B) at an application rate of n g/ha,

E=the expected damage by herbicides (A) and (B) at application rates of m and n kg/ha and,

then for a combination:

E=X+Y−(X×Y)/100

If the actual damage exceeds the calculated value, the activity of the combination is superadditive, i.e. it shows a synergistic effect. In this case, the damage actually observed must exceed the values calculated using the above formulae for the expected damage E.

EXAMPLES

The invention is further described by the following non-limiting example which further illustrates the invention, and is not intended to, nor should it be interpreted to, limit the scope of the invention.

Examples 1-6

Herbicidal activity of a herbicide composition according to the first aspect of the present invention with regard to different types of unwanted vegetation was determined. Individual compositions comprising metobromuron or clomazone are compared with a herbicide composition according to the invention comprising metobromuron and clomazone. The expected activity of the combination of the active compounds metobromuron and clomazone is calculated according to above mentioned calculation method by Colby, in order to evaluate a synergistic effect between metobromuron and clomazone. If the actual herbicidal activity exceeds the calculated value, the activity of the combination is superadditive, i.e. it shows a synergistic effect.

Herbicidal activity was determined by applying herbicide compositions on emerged unwanted vegetation shortly before emergence of potatoes on a field. Metobromuron and clomazone were applied as a tank mixture by mixing these active compounds prior to use in a spray tank (Examples 1-3), or were applied as a ready-to-use formulation (Examples 4-6). The corresponding mixture or ready-to-use formulation was in the form of a spray liquor and was sprayed using flat fan nozzles. Besides, spray liquors of individual compositions comprising metobromuron or clomazone were used. Test plants of unwanted vegetation of a height of 5 to 15 cm were sprayed with the active compound preparations such that particular desired amounts of active compounds are applied per unit area.

For Example 1, of which the results are shown below in Table 1, the concentration of the spray liquor is chosen such that particular desired amounts of metobromuron and of clomazone are present in an application volume of 300 L water/ha. At 28 to 49 days after application of the spray liquor, the degree of damage to the unwanted vegetation is rated in % of plants of unwanted vegetation that were killed, which was assessed by visually controlling the plants. Tests were performed on test fields (field trials).

TABLE 1 Test results of Example 1, showing herbicidal effect (h.e.) against different types of unwanted vegetation (UVEG)of a herbicide composition according to the first aspect of the present invention comprising metobromuron (MTB) and clomazone (CLZ), named ‘MTB + CLZ’, compared with herbicide compositions comprising MTB or CLZ individually. Synergistic effect of ‘MTB + CLZ’ is evaluated by comparison against the expected h.e. of the combination of the active compounds calculated according to the calculation method by Colby given above MTB + CLZ MTB (1200 g a.c. (1200 g CLZ MTB/ha + 72 g a.c.**/ha) (72 g a.c./ha) a.c. CLZ/ha) Colby UVEG/DAA* h.e. (%) h.e. (%) h.e. (%) h.e. (%) Convolvolus 83 46 99 91 arvensis/28 DAA Hibiscus 81 79 100 96 trionum/28 DAA Setaria 72 86 99 96 viridis/28 DAA Amaranthus 50 10 70 55 retroflexus/ 49 DAA Echinochloa/ 35 57 81 72 29 DAA *DAA = days after application; **a.c. = active compound

For Example 2, of which the results are shown below in Table 2, the concentration of the spray liquor is chosen such that particular desired amounts of metobromuron and of clomazone are present in an application volume of 300 L water/ha. At 42 to 56 days after application of the spray liquor, the degree of damage to the unwanted vegetation is rated in % of plants of unwanted vegetation that were killed, which was assessed by visually controlling the plants. Tests were performed on test fields (field trials).

TABLE 2 Test results of Example 2, showing herbicidal effect (h.e.) against different types of unwanted vegetation (UVEG)of a herbicide composition according to the first aspect of the present invention comprising metobromuron (MTB) and clomazone (CLZ), named ‘MTB + CLZ’, compared with herbicide compositions comprising MTB or CLZ individually. Synergistic effect of ‘MTB + CLZ’ is evaluated by comparison against the expected h.e. of the combination of the active compounds calculated according to the calculation method by Colby given above MTB + CLZ UVEG/ MTB MTB CLZ CLZ (g a.c. MTB^(#) + MTB + CLZ Colby DAA* (g a.c.**/ha) h.e. (%) (g a.c./ha) h.e. (%) g a.c. CLZ^(†)) h.e. (%) h.e.(%) CHEAL^(‡)/ 500 61 45 6  500^(#) + 45^(†) 78 63.3 42-56 1000 69 45 6 1000^(#) + 45^(†) 81 70.9 DAA 1500 79 45 6 1500^(#) + 45^(†) 100 80.3 1000 69 67.5 43  1000^(#) + 67.5^(†) 99 82.3 1500 79 67.5 43  1500^(#) + 67.5^(†) 100 88.0 500 61 90 53  500^(#) + 90^(†) 96 81.7 1000 69 90 53 1000^(#) + 90^(†) 98 85.4 1500 79 90 53 1500^(#) + 90^(†) 100 90.1 SENVU^(‡‡)/ 500 18 45 5  500^(#) + 45^(†) 80 22.1 42-56 1000 34 45 5 1000^(#) + 45^(†) 88 37.3 DAA 1500 35 45 5 1500^(#) + 45^(†) 96 38.3 500 18 67.5 40   500^(#) + 67.5^(†) 68 50.8 1000 34 67.5 40  1000^(#) + 67.5^(†) 96 60.4 1500 35 67.5 40  1500^(#) + 67.5^(†) 97 61.0 500 18 90 39  500^(#) + 90^(†) 88 50.0 1000 34 90 39 1000^(#) + 90^(†) 95 59.7 1500 35 90 39 1500^(#) + 90^(†) 100 60.4 *DAA = days after application; **a.c. = active compound; ^(‡)CHEAL = Chenopodium album; ^(‡‡)SENVU = Senecio vulgaris

For Example 3, of which the results are shown below in Table 3, the concentration of the spray liquor is chosen such that particular desired amounts of metobromuron and of clomazone are present in an application volume of 300 L water/ha. At 42 to 56 days after application of the spray liquor, the degree of damage to the unwanted vegetation is rated in % of plants of unwanted vegetation that were killed, which was assessed by visually controlling the plants. Tests were performed on test fields (field trials).

TABLE 3 Test results of Example 3, showing herbicidal effect (h.e.) against different types of unwanted vegetation (UVEG)of a herbicide composition according to the first aspect of the present invention comprising metobromuron (MTB) and clomazone (CLZ), named ‘MTB + CLZ’, compared with herbicide compositions comprising MTB or CLZ individually. Synergistic effect of ‘MTB + CLZ’ is evaluated by comparison against the expected h.e. of the combination of the active compounds calculated according to the calculation method by Colby given above MTB + CLZ UVEG/ MTB MTB CLZ CLZ (g a.c. MTB^(#) + MTB + CLZ Colby DAA* (g a.c.**/ha) h.e. (%) (g a.c./ha) h.e. (%) g a.c. CLZ^(†)) h.e. (%) h.e.(%) CHEAL^(‡)/ 600 69.3 54 46.7  600^(#) + 54^(†) 96.7 83.6 42-56 1200 93 54 46.7 1200^(#) + 54^(†) 96.7 96.3 DAA 600 69.3 72 56.7  600^(#) + 72^(†) 91.7 86.7 1200 93 72 56.7 1200^(#) + 72^(†) 100.0 97.0 600 69.3 90 63.3  600^(#) + 90^(†) 93.3 88.7 1200 93 90 63.3 1200^(#) + 90^(†) 98.3 97.4 1800 98.3 90 63.3 1800^(#) + 90^(†) 100.0 99.4 MERAN^(T)/ 600 10 54 43.3  600^(#) + 54^(†) 76.7 49.0 42-56 1200 78.3 54 43.3 1200^(#) + 54^(†) 97.0 87.7 DAA 1800 91 54 43.3 1800^(#) + 54^(†) 97.0 94.9 600 10 72 50  600^(#) + 72^(†) 91.7 55.0 1200 78.3 72 50 1200^(#) + 72^(†) 96.0 89.2 600 10 90 23.3  600^(#) + 90^(†) 91.7 31.0 1200 78.3 90 23.3 1200^(#) + 90^(†) 97.3 83.4 1800 91 90 23.3 1800^(#) + 90^(†) 100.0 93.1 VERSS^(TT)/ 600 20 54 43.3  600^(#) + 54^(†) 76.7 54.6 42-56 1200 35 54 43.3 1200^(#) + 54^(†) 80.0 63.1 DAA 600 20 72 60  600^(#) + 72^(†) 76.7 68.0 1200 35 72 60 1200^(#) + 72^(†) 86.3 74.0 600 20 90 16.7  600^(#) + 90^(†) 99.3 33.4 1200 35 90 16.7 1200^(#) + 90^(†) 99.3 45.9 1800 97 90 16.7 1800^(#) + 90^(†) 100.0 97.5 *DAA = days after application; **a.c. = active compound; ^(‡)CHEAL = Chenopodium album; ^(T)MERAN = Merculiaris annua; ^(TT)VERSS = Veronica sp.

For Example 4, of which the results are shown below in Table 4, the concentration of the spray liquor is chosen such that particular desired amounts of metobromuron and of clomazone are present in an application volume of 300 L water/ha. At 22 to 55 days after application of the spray liquor, the degree of damage to the unwanted vegetation is rated in % of plants of unwanted vegetation that were killed, which was assessed by visually controlling the plants. Tests were performed on test fields (field trials).

TABLE 4 Test results of Example 4, showing herbicidal effect (h.e.) against different types of unwanted vegetation (UVEG)of a herbicide composition according to the first aspect of the present invention comprising metobromuron (MTB) and clomazone (CLZ), named ‘MTB + CLZ’, compared with herbicide compositions comprising MTB or CLZ individually. Synergistic effect of ‘MTB + CLZ’ is evaluated by comparison against the expected h.e. of the combination of the active compounds calculated according to the calculation method by Colby given above MTB + CLZ MTB (400 g a.c. (400 g CLZ MTB/ha + 36 g a.c.**/ha) (36 g a.c./ha) a.c. CLZ/ha) Colby UVEG/DAA* h.e. (%) h.e. (%) h.e. (%) h.e. (%) Convolvolus 18 30 78 43 arvensis/44 DAA Cypurus/35 50 67 85 84 DAA Solanum 76 52 100 88 nigrum/35 DAA Persicaria 79 28 91 85 maculosa/ 35 DAA Echinochloa 68 63 96 88 crus galli/ 35 DAA Urtica 37 0 62 37 urens/22 DAA Veronica 25 0 40 25 persica/55 DAA *DAA = days after application; **a.c. = active compound

For Example 5, of which the results are shown below in Table 5, the concentration of the spray liquor is chosen such that particular desired amounts of metobromuron and of clomazone are present in an application volume of 300 L water/ha. At 25 to 41 days after application of the spray liquor, the degree of damage to the unwanted vegetation is rated in % of plants of unwanted vegetation that were killed, which was assessed by visually controlling the plants. Tests were performed on test fields (field trials).

TABLE 5 Test results of Example 5, showing herbicidal effect (h.e.) against different types of unwanted vegetation (UVEG)of a herbicide composition according to the first aspect of the present invention comprising metobromuron (MTB) and clomazone (CLZ), named ‘MTB + CLZ’, compared with herbicide compositions comprising MTB or CLZ individually. Synergistic effect of ‘MTB + CLZ’ is evaluated by comparison against the expected h.e. of the combination of the active compounds calculated according to the calculation method by Colby given above MTB + CLZ MTB (1000 g a.c. (1000 g CLZ MTB/ha + 90 g a.c.**/ha) (90 g a.c./ha) a.c. CLZ/ha) Colby UVEG/DAA* h.e. (%) h.e. (%) h.e. (%) h.e. (%) Chenopodium 75 28 100 82 album/41 DAA Galium 28 33 68 52 aparine/25 DAA Amaranthus 70 10 93 73 retroflexus/ 25 DAA Merculiaris 49 50 85 75 annua/41 DAA Polygonum 66 78 100 93 aviculare/38 DAA Solanum 65 61 91 86 physalifolium/ 38 DAA Persicaria 43 80 96 89 maculate/28 DAA *DAA = days after application; **a.c. = active compound

For Example 6, of which the results are shown below in Table 6, the concentration of the spray liquor is chosen such that particular desired amounts of metobromuron and of clomazone are present in an application volume of 300 L water/ha. At 18 to 42 days after application of the spray liquor, the degree of damage to the unwanted vegetation is rated in % of plants of unwanted vegetation that were killed, which was assessed by visually controlling the plants. Tests were performed on test fields (field trials).

TABLE 6 Test results of Example 6, showing herbicidal effect (h.e.) against different types of unwanted vegetation (UVEG)of a herbicide composition according to the first aspect of the present invention comprising metobromuron (MTB) and clomazone (CLZ), named ‘MTB + CLZ’, compared with herbicide compositions comprising MTB or CLZ individually. Synergistic effect of ‘MTB + CLZ’ is evaluated by comparison against the expected h.e. of the combination of the active compounds calculated according to the calculation method by Colby given above MTB + CLZ MTB (1200 g a.c. (1200 g CLZ MTB/ha + 72 g a.c.**/ha) (72 g a.c./ha) a.c. CLZ/ha) Colby UVEG/DAA* h.e. (%) h.e. (%) h.e. (%) h.e. (%) Amaranthus 43 77 92 87 retroflexus/ 18 DAA Merculiaris 40 60 91 76 annua/18 DAA Persicaria 21 34 73 48 laphatipholium/ 25 DAA Solanum 31 66 84 77 nigrum/18 DAA Panonicum 89 0 97 89 ulmi/42 DAA *DAA = days after application; **a.c. = active compound

Synergistic actions are observed for the herbicide combinations of Examples 1-6, as shown in Table 1-6. When taking into account the observed synergistic actions, the environmental loading will be less when applying tank mixtures of metobromuron and clomazone, or ready-to-use formulations comprising both herbicides, compared to applying individual compositions comprising only one of said herbicides. 

1. A synergistically effective herbicide composition comprising as component (A) an herbicidally active amount of metobromuron and as component (B) clomazone, wherein a weight ratio of components (A) and (B) is in a range up to 1000:1.
 2. The herbicide composition according to claim 1, wherein said weight ratio of components (A) and (B) is in a range up to 100:1.
 3. The herbicide composition according to claim 2, wherein said weight ratio of components (A) and (B) is in a range from 2:1 to 38:1.
 4. The herbicide composition according to claim 1, further comprising one or more additional components selected from the group comprising: herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, biocides, active pesticide ingredients, safeners, antioxidants, chemical stabilizers, adhesives, fertilizers, perfumes, dyestuffs, liquid carriers, solid carriers, surface-active agents, crystallisation inhibitors, viscosity modifiers, suspending agents, spray droplet modifiers, pigments, foaming agents, light-blocking agents, compatibility agents, antifoam agents, sequestering agents, neutralising agents, buffers, wetting agents, dispersing agents, preservatives, thickening agents, corrosion inhibitors, freezing point depressants, odorants, spreading agents, penetration aids, micronutrients, emollients, lubricants, sticking agents, and humectants.
 5. Kit comprising one or more spatially separated components to be used as a herbicide composition, comprising as component (A) an herbicidally active amount of metobromuron and as component (B) clomazone, which components are for simultaneous, separate or sequential use.
 6. Kit according to claim 5, comprising one or more spatially separated components according to the herbicide composition comprising as component (A) an herbicidally active amount of metobromuron and as component (B) clomazone, wherein a weight ratio of components (A) and (B) is in a range up to 1000:1.
 7. Use of a herbicide composition according to claim 1 in an amount effective for controlling one or more types of unwanted vegetation by applying the herbicide composition to the unwanted vegetation and/or a habitat thereof.
 8. Use according to claim 7, wherein said one or more types of unwanted vegetation are selected from one or more species of one or more families selected from the group comprising Cyperaceae, Gramineae, Scrophulariaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Plantaginaceae, Violaceae, Geraniaceae, Malvaceae, Convolvulaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Portulacaceae, Amaranthaceae, Solanaceae, Polygonaceae, Cruciferae, Cucurbitaceae, Molluginacea and Rubiaceae.
 9. Use according to claim 7, wherein said herbicide composition is applied onto said one or more types of unwanted vegetation shortly before or around emergence of one or more crop types in proximity of said unwanted vegetation, wherein the herbicide composition is reapplied at a specified time interval of 3 days to 10 days until harvest of said one or more crop types.
 10. Use according to claim 9, wherein potato is selected as a crop.
 11. Use according to claim 7, wherein said herbicide composition is applied by spraying, sprinkling, showering, spritzing, spreading in droplets, watering, atomizing, spattering, dispersing, diffusing, broadcasting and/or douching.
 12. Use according to claim 7, wherein said herbicide composition is applied in a target dose rate of 200 to 2000 g of metobromuron and of 10 to 180 g of clomazone per hectare of land.
 13. Use according to claim 7, wherein said herbicide composition is applied as a tank mixture, wherein metobromuron and clomazone are combined prior to use.
 14. Use according to claim 7, wherein said herbicide composition is applied as a ready-to-use formulation.
 15. Use according claim 7, wherein said herbicide composition is applied by applying metobromuron in a concentration of 0.5 to 60 g/L water at a target dose rate of 30 to 600 L per hectare of land and by applying clomazone in a concentration of 0.05 to 3 g/L water at a target dose rate of 30 to 600 L per hectare of land. 